24 July 2008


Council Tax


Council Tax is a local tax set by local councils to help pay for local services. Each dwelling within the district is placed in one of eight valuation bands (from A to H) by the Valuation Office Agency (part of the Inland Revenue).

The valuation is based on the 'capital value' of the dwelling as at 1 April 1991. The banding of a dwelling establishes its value relative to other dwellings in a local area. Changes in the housing market mean that house prices vary over time. However as such changes will generally affect the value of all properties in the area they will not affect the relative values which the bandings represent.

The range of values, based on 1991 prices, which each band covers, for England, is as follows:

Band Range of values (as at 1 April 1991)
A Up to £40,000
B Over £40,000 and up to £52,000
C Over £52,000 and up to £68,000
D Over £68,000 and up to £88,000
E Over £88,000 and up to £120,000
F Over £120,000 and up to £160,000
G Over £160,000 and up to £320,000
H Over £320,000
 
So, for example if the Council Tax for a dwelling in band A is £1000, the bill for one in band D will be one and a half times that amount (6:9) - £1500 - for one in band H three times that amount (6:18) - £3000 - and for a dwelling in band F, it will be £2166.67 (6:13).

If you disagree with the Band in which your property has been placed, you have the right of appeal. The grounds for appeal are however limited. As a rule, you can only appeal if:

  • You have either become the new owner or leaseholder of the property within the last six months
  • Your home has undergone structural alterations
  • There has been a change in the local environment, which has had a detrimental effect on the value of your property.

You MUST continue to pay your Council Tax pending the outcome of any appeal.

Any appeal should be made to:
The Listing Officer
Valuation Office Agency
49 Buckingham Street
Aylesbury
Bucks
HP20 2NQ
Telephone Number 01296 550300

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) also have a website www.voa.gov.uk which gives details of the valuation bands allocated to all properties in the country.  

COUNCIL TAX CHARGES

South Bucks District Council is a Billing Authority and as such in addition to its own requirements, collects on behalf of other bodies i.e. Buckinghamshire County Council, Thames Valley Police Authority and parishes within South Bucks.

At its meeting on 4th March 2008, the District Council set the following amounts as the amount of Council Tax for the year 2008/09 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below in accordance with Section 30 of the local Government Finance Act 1992:
 
TOTAL COUNCIL TAX FOR YOUR BAND
TOWN OR PARISH
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
Beaconsfield 929.75 1,084.72 1,239.68 1,394.64 1,704.56 2,014.47 2,324.39 2,789.28
Burnham 963.49 1,124.09 1,284.67 1,445.25 1,766.41 2,087.58 2,408.74 2,890.50
Denham 920.01 1,073.36 1,226.69 1,380.03 1,686.70 1,993.37 2,300.04 2,760.06
Dorney 927.56 1,082.17 1,236.77 1,391.36 1,700.55 2,009.74 2,318.92 2,782.72
Farnham Royal 916.98 1,069.82 1,222.65 1,375.48 1,681.14 1,986.80 2,292.46 2,750.96
Fulmer 933.26 1,088.82 1,244.37 1,399.91 1,711.00 2,022.09 2,333.17 2,799.82
Gerrards Cross 928.89 1,083.72 1,238.53 1,393.35 1,702.98 2,012.61 2,322.24 2,786.70
Hedgerley 923.36 1,077.26 1,231.16 1,385.05 1,692.84 2,000.62 2,308.41 2,770.10
Iver 949.11 1,107.31 1,265.49 1,423.68 1,740.05 2,056.42 2,372.79 2,847.36
Stoke Poges 918.73 1,071.87 1,224.99 1,378.11 1,684.35 1,990.60 2,296.84 2,756.22
Taplow 920.94 1,074.45 1,227.94 1,381.43 1,688.41 1,995.39 2,302.37 2,762.86
Wexham 923.15 1,077.02 1,230.88 1,384.74 1,692.46 2,000.17 2,307.89 2,769.48
% of properties within district 2.1% 3.2% 12.4% 19.8% 18.4% 12.3% 25.0% 6.8%
66.66% 77.77% 88.88% 100.00% 122.22% 144.44% 166.66% 200.00%
A B C D E F G H
Up to
£40,000
 £40,001
to £52,000		 £52,001
to £68,000
 £68,001
to £88,000
 £88,001
to £120,000
 £120,001
to £160,000
 £160,001
to £320,000
 Over
£320,000

In each case, the amount includes an element for precepts issued to the Council by Buckinghamshire County Council, the Thames Valley Police Authority, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes combined five authority  and the relevant Parish or Town Council.

Contact  Details / Telephone Numbers

Address: Council Tax, South Bucks District Council, Capswood, Oxford Road, Denham, Bucks UB9 4LH
Email:  revenuesandbenefits@southbucks.gov.uk
Tel:  Council Tax - (01895) 837500

National Non Domestic Rates - 0845 300 5014
Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit - (01895 837515)
Benefit Fraud - 0800328 6340